Category: Pet

Many families have pets, whether that pet is a cat, a dog or something smaller like a hamster, and often, the pet becomes as dear to the family as its own members. As well as unconditional love, a pet brings much more with it, qualities that are of particular benefit to children.

Companionship and confidence

The first and perhaps most desirable quality a pet brings to the family is one of companionship. This is of great importance if your child appears to find it difficult to make friends with his or her peers. Having a pet in the family gives a child something to talk about with schoolmates and acquaintances, as all children love to hear about how cute a cat or dog is and what they get up to. A child can also find great comfort in an animal’s company when they became angry, frightened or sad, for a dog or cat does not question or demand responses in the same way an adult or older sibling might.

Learning

A family pet can also help your child to learn, not just in terms of conventional education but also in life skills and morality. For example, a child may feel encouraged to read by deciding to read aloud to their pet whereas they might feel intimidated by reading aloud to an adult. A child can also learn about responsibility when owning a pet, especially if the child is told they have to be the prime carer for the animal. Understanding that a pet’s health will be compromised if the child does not remember to feed and clean up after them, as well as exercising them if necessary, is a valuable lesson in being responsible that will stay with them into adulthood. Our pets, especially if they leave the home, also need regular maintenance to stay healthy and so we must remember to buy flea tablets for our dogs, and this is perhaps something that your child could be responsible for remembering.

Exercise

Talking of exercising animals, a dog presents a great opportunity to get sedentary kids up and off the sofa and engaging in a physical activity that is fun rather than a chore. If your child is too young to walk your family dog alone, they can always accompany you on your dog walking. They can even get exercise simply by taking the dog out into the garden and playing a ball game.

Health

Apart from the extensive emotional benefits of having a pet in the family, they can also help to build up your child’s immune system. Exposing a child from an early age to the bacteria all animals play host to can result in fewer sicknesses and a more robust immune system. Studies also suggest that the simple act of petting an animal lowers stress levels.

Owning a pet can bring great benefit to your child in terms of their emotional, physical and educational development, as well as the joy the animal can bring you.

You need a veterinarian to treat your animal for minor to severe problems. A vet is the only person able to recognise the symptoms of diseases before they get worse. An insurance provider gives you the finances to stay in close contact with this vet. There are different ways that an insurance company helps you cover a pet for medical expenses.

Accidental Injury Coverage

Pets, dogs in particular, get into accidents all the time. Some injuries are immediately treatable, but other injuries are more serious and life threatening. Whether the accident was the owner’s fault or someone else’s, someone has to pay for the damages. The insurance company helps you cover the majority of the costs while you cover the rest.

Car accidents occur in all types of cities, and animals get hit all the time. The accidents are serious when the animals get killed or suffer from debilitating, lifelong injuries.

Domestic pets could easily get into fights with other animals, too. They fight with other pets in the neighbourhood or animals that come out of the wild. Wild animals are the most problematic because they are not easily avoidable and cause more damage than domestic ones.

Although cats are known to land on their feet, they still suffer from dangerous falls. They like to climb walls and walk on ledges, but they could easily lose their balance. Getting treated for broken bones is one reason to insure your pet.

Illness Coverage

Pets suffer from many of the same health conditions that humans suffer from. There is a cancer that can be found in every part of the body, from bone to your blood or organs. Medical insurance covers every exam, hospitalisation, surgery, and medication needed as a result of an illness.

Most procedures in hospitals cost tens of thousands of pounds. Annual doctors’ visits cost hundreds of pounds, and diagnostic tests cost slightly more. A good insurance policy covers the majority of these costs, and the remaining funds are out of pocket; however, many doctors’ offices allow you to set up payment plans.

Routine Care Coverage

All pets need coverage for routine care. For the same reasons you get a physical every year, make sure your animal gets a checkup, too. The vet checks for problems that may need a referral to a medical specialist. If necessary, the vet needs to create a health plan to improve the long-term health of your pet.

The vet also checks for the beginning signs of major diseases like cancer or diabetes. Many symptoms do not develop until later in the animals’ lives. The signs start small and get more serious over time.

There are many kinds of health insurance, so your options are not all one-sided. Learn as much as you can before you become a policyholder. At least, know that you need insurance to protect the health and wellbeing of your pet.